Craig Ruston, a 45-year-old father-of-two from Northamptonshire, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2018. Sally, his wife, shared the tragic news on his blog on Tuesday.
She wrote: “My Amazing Craig passed away yesterday morning at 6.20am.
“We are truly heartbroken.
“Last Tuesday he was taken unwell and we have since spent the last 6 days in isolation.
“How dare that take Craig who was already facing this (MND), the most vile and evil of diseases.”
Mr Ruston was a well-established shoe designer who had worked with big-name brands Dr Martens, Hunter Boots, and Fred Perry.
On being diagnosed with MND, he started a personal blog to track his journey, according to the Northamptonshire Telegraph.
On Tuesday Kettering General Hospital confirmed the first death in Northamptonshire.
Professor Andrew Chilton said: “Sadly we can confirm that a man who was being cared for at Kettering General Hospital, and had tested positive for COVID-19 has died.
“The patient who died on March 16 had underlying health conditions.
“His family has been informed and our thoughts and condolences are with them at this difficult and distressing time.”
Prior to Mr Ruston’s death the youngest victim was believed to have been Nick Matthew, a 59-year-old who died at Bristol Royal Infirmary on Saturday.
In a tribute, Mr Matthews’ wife Mary wrote: “Today I lost my life partner and soul mate but most of all my best friend.”
Officials in the UK recorded the biggest daily spike in cases so far, with 407 patients diagnosed in the past 24 hours.
It means 1,950 Britons have now caught the virus.
